California Policy Summit 2018

Program

Monday, August 6, 2018

Mon 8/6

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

As the traditional financing sources for California's major infrastructure dries up, how will government and business leaders adapt to support future economic growth? There simply won't be enough capital in government alone to finance infrastructure projects. California needs to identify a new multi sector marketplace that can support coordinated infrastructure investment in order to achieve future growth, community revitalization and climate resiliency. This session will bring together leaders in policy, infrastructure and finance to determine, how can state, regional and local leaders collaborate with businesses and investors to develop and deploy new infrastructure investment models? What barriers prevent project coordination, and what can government and policy leaders do to enable a platform that attracts outside investment to address the states built environments needs?

Speakers

Tue 8/7

10:00 am - 11:15 am

The future of work is taking shape under the looming specter of automation and the spreading application of artificial intelligence across industry sectors. This dynamic has leaders around the country contemplating the role of human labor in the face of unprecedented technological advancement. In preparing California for this future of work, the focus for leaders starts at reshaping California higher education pipeline to proactively develop the skills critical for 21st century jobs. Hear viewpoints from both traditional and state of the art California companies, as well as from state and educational leaders as to the future of work and higher education in the Golden State.

Tue 8/7

10:00 am - 11:15 am

California's prosperity is tied to the export and import of goods and services by California-based companies and through California's transportation hubs. The state's 2017 exports were valued at $172.0 billion (11.1% of the U.S. total) and imports at $440.6 billion (18.8%). The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach are two of the largest seaports in the Western Hemisphere, and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is one of the busiest cargo airports nationally. The ports and international airports of Oakland and San Francisco make up the ninth largest metropolitan port complex in the country. However, with NAFTA and multiple national bilateral free trade agreements in limbo, what can the next governor do to protect California small businesses and jobs and position the state to lead global commerce in the Pacific? At this private session, business and government leaders will discuss perspectives and recommendations for the next California governor to develop a coordinated and resourced trade strategy.

Tue 8/7

11:30 am - 12:45 pm

A robust housing supply remains a vital component of any government strategy that aims to successfully invest in human capital, promote economic development and provide social mobility. Despite state action in 2016 to induce new development through a mix of policy regulation and accountability measures, California cities continue to struggle to develop adequate levels of housing for large segments of the population. Lack of adequate financial incentives that support various types of development demanded throughout the state also contribute to the crisis. What can state leaders do to incentivize more housing development at the local level and how do we widen the capital pool for affordable housing projects?

Tue 8/7

11:30 am - 12:45 pm

Signed in December 2017, The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act established Opportunity Zones to encourage investment in low- to moderate-income communities through tax incentives. This legislation offers great potential to increase jobs and accelerate wealth creation in the areas that need it most by unlocking the nation's pool of unrealized capital gains, which are estimated to be more than $6 trillion. As the U.S. Department of the Treasury works through developing implementation guidelines for the Opportunity Zones, states are wrestling with implementation questions of their own, including treatment of capital gains tax and gentrification and displacement risks, as well as considering multi-sector investment opportunities. At this private session, leaders will discuss approaches to using Opportunity Zones to drive economic growth in California, and what clarity investors need to execute successfully.

Tue 8/7

1:00 pm - 2:40 pm

In the last year, issues surrounding gender equality in the workplace and in society have been at the forefront of the national conversation. From pay equality to gender bias to underrepresentation in government, California women face obstacles many of their male counterparts have never encountered. How is California addressing women's rights as human rights, and how can our political and business leaders capitalize on the current social revolution to deliver transformational and lasting impact?

Tue 8/7

3:15 pm - 4:30 pm

From transformative new technologies, ambitious climate laws and controversial social initiatives, California remains a prolific laboratory for bold ideas and innovative solutions to intractable problems. Conversely, California has been rated as having the worst business climate in the U.S. due to business regulations, tax policies, and cost of doing business. Five CEO’s of California headquartered companies will take on this dichotomy and discuss their perspectives on the state’s biggest strengths, as well as their thoughts on how California’s political leaders can have the biggest impact on the state’s economic climate.

Tue 8/7

3:15 pm - 4:30 pm

California's acclaimed position as the 5th largest economy in the world belies an economic landscape that harbors the highest effective poverty rate and the highest percentage of children in poverty of any state in the country. California maintains a robust social safety net, yet more than 20% of the state's children live in deep poverty. As it builds its recommendations required by law to be submitted to the Legislature and new Administration this November, The Lifting Children and Families out of Poverty Task Force has brought multi sector leaders together to develop state policies to comprehensively address this human and fiscal crisis in line with effective business practices, including a comprehensive approach to coordinating prenatal and health care & child care, education, and social services. This session will explore how this approach to systemically tackle child poverty can foster a more inclusive investment strategy - in communities and human capital - that enables children and youth to thrive throughout the state for generations to come.